Kosača noble family

The Kosača family was a Bosnian medieval noble family which ruled over parts of modern Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dalmatia (in southern Croatia), Old Herzegovina (in western Montenegro) and Raška (in southwestern Serbia), between the 14th century and the 15th century. The land they controlled was known as Hum (Zahumlje), roughly corresponding to modern region of Herzegovina, which itself was derived from the title "Herzog", which Stjepan Vukčić Kosača adopted in 1448. The family ruled as vassals to several states, including the Kingdom of Bosnia and Ottoman Empire. The Kosača family members belonged to the Bosnian Church, Catholic Church and Serbian Orthodox Church.

History

The family name Kosača was probably taken after the village of Kosače near Foča, in the Podrinje region of eastern Bosnia, where the Kosača family were originally estate owners.

The founder, Vuk (by which the family is also called Vukovići), was a prominent military commander under Emperor Dušan the Mighty of Serbia (r. 1331–1355) who took part in the conquests of southern Balkans. He was given lands around Upper Drina.